Dreams of an Irish Dog

That’s the original title I gave this piece which was just published in today’s Irish Times online. I’m delighted to be getting lots of positive responses to it – I think my thoughts on moving home to Ireland after 23 years abroad hits a nerve with anyone living away from home (and there are a lot of us).

And I’ll be writing a story every few weeks for the Irish Times about how we’re adjusting to life here. A bit like this Turf story I already posted after Christmas.

“Will there be a school play I can be in? Do they have scouts in Ireland? Can I have my own room? Does this mean we can finally get a dog?”

Our kids were very excited when we told them last spring that we would be leaving Italy and moving to Dublin in the summer. They had visited Irelandmany times, for Christmas, birthdays, funerals; they knew the parks and libraries, and they felt like they could really live there. And when we knew my husband’s contract in Florence was due to end, it seemed like the right time for us to decide to give Ireland a go. Finally.

I left Ireland 23 years ago and I have lived abroad for longer than I lived there. I grew up in Dublin, but I’ve been a “grown up” in other places. Having met my Canadian husband after college in London we moved around with his career (US, Canada, Norway, Italy). So, out of the four of us, I was the only one qualified to know about what life in Ireland would be like. Or thought I was.

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Really enjoyed the article Emma! And very much looking forward to the coming ones too as our story seems similar, if a few years behind your own. I’m Canadian, my wife and two very small kids are Irish and we’ve lived in Belgium for years.
Since the arrival of the two young ‘uns we’ve keenly felt the lack of family around us – both the logistical support that they can offer, but also the emotional support. Lately we’ve been discussing what it would be like to move to Wexford. My wife is from there, as is much of my extended family making it a logical spot to put down roots. But then my wife remembers that she left Ireland for a reason, and what would we do for work? and we wonder if we aren’t dreaming in technicolour of the grass you mention. All of this is to say I’m looking forward to your coming articles and I am sure they’ll provoke much debate in our home.